Feb. 20, 2011

Box Score

MIAMI - The Illinois softball team dropped its final game of the Blue and Gold Felsberg Memorial Tournament, falling to Providence 6-5 on Sunday. Danielle Zymkowitz and Hollie Pinchback led Illinois at the plate. Zymkowitz finished 2-for-4 with two runs scored and a stolen base. Pinchback plated three runners during the game, including two on a two-out double in the seventh to put Illinois within one run of tying.

"We knew our offense needed to get us back in the game but we adjusted a little too late," Illinois head coach Terri Sullivan said. "Thirteen of our outs were in the air and we really needed to put more pressure on them [defensively]. It was good to see Laura Tarnawa pitch in relief and keep the game where it needed to be."

The Illini attempted a seventh inning rally, but were only able to score two runners to cut the deficit to one. With two outs, Ashley Conrad doubled to center and moved to third on Zymkowitz's single that followed. Pinchback provided a double, her third on the season, through the right side of the Providence infield to cut the deficit to 6-5 with a runner in scoring position; however, Meredith Hackett grounded out to end the comeback attempt.

"We had the winning run at the plate," Sullivan said. "There is not one else I would rather see up there then Meredith."

The Illini pushed across three runs in the bottom of the first inning to take an early lead, 3-0. Zymkowitz led off the frame with a triple to center field before Pinchback plated her with a ground out to second base. Hackett followed with a walk, scoring on a fielder's choice off Kelley Wedel's bat to double the lead. One batter later, Danielle Vaji singled to score Wedel from second and push the lead to 3-0.

Providence plated three runs in the second and third innings to take a 6-3 lead. Kim Pelland led off the second with a solo home run, Michelle Huber hit an RBI double and Jen Abrams followed with a run-scoring single to tie the score at 3-3. Providence took the lead in the following frame on a three run homer by Jessie Bryant after Kaitlyn Duval walked and Pelland doubled to center field.

Jackie Guy started in the circle for Illinois, going 2.1 innings before being lifted for Tarnawa, who pitched the final 4.2 innings, only giving up two hits and two walks while striking out two batters.